Nigel, are you exporting with tracks centred, no reverb, no EQ? I have that set up in my preferences and, as a result, the tracks need treatment to sound like they did in the box.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Are you saying that even with all tracks centred and EQ & effects off the rendered tracks are still dull?
On another matter - have you noticed that sometimes (typically when you have been trialing and replacing realtracks a lot in a song the volume of the new tracks go down to close to zero volume. Saving the song and reloading does not help. I have to delete the song completely and start from scratch - do you get this?
Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
On another matter - have you noticed that sometimes (typically when you have been trialing and replacing realtracks a lot in a song the volume of the new tracks go down to close to zero volume. Saving the song and reloading does not help. I have to delete the song completely and start from scratch - do you get this?
Hi Nigel,
When styles are created, volumes in Stylemaker are adjusted so that each track is at the "right" mixer volume when the mixer's volume for that track is set to 90. Because some RTs are louder than others, individual track adjustments in Stylemaker vary.
When trialling RTs, if you happen to put a softer Realtrack onto a mixer track that was reduced in volume to accommodate the original instrument in the style, the trialled RT will sound very quite.
In other words, what you are experiencing is a consequence of the base style that you are bring RTs into. (At least, this is my take on it all.)
Dull rendered tracks - how do you avoid this problem?
Hi again, Nigel.
My tracks are always dull when I render them because I always render them without reverb, tone settings and with the pan centered. I do all the modifying in my DAW.
Are you rendering your tracks in BIAB or in the VST plugin?
Are you saying that even with all tracks centred and EQ & effects off the rendered tracks are still dull?
...have you noticed that sometimes the volume of the new tracks go down to close to zero volume.do you get this?
hello again Nigel, From my experience, as recent as yesterday,centred, dry & unEQd is a bit "dull". I exported a drum track twice for a current project - one had slight variations added. I was intending to just cut n paste the changes in as & where I felt they worked and as I started I noticed the two version sounded quite different...one was "dull". I went back & checked my settings and it seems my preference for dry etc had dropped out with the last update giving me the different sounds. It was no biggy to tweak in Reaper to make a match, (though, usually, matching BIAB's reverb is a problem), there was a solid wallop of reverb & a couple of units of top end to get within cooee, but it was a stark difference. In the end I didn't go with the variant sections as I rather like the persistent, insistent plod of my original grab. The volume thing - I've not noticed becasue I spend very little time inside BIAB - I find, export and work in Reaper without paying attention to levels etc in BIAB.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Looks like everybody has the same problem with BIAB rendering dull sounding wav files.
Maybe somebody at PG Music can explain this to us all and what they are going to do to fix it.
Thanks & Best Regards Nigel
Nigel,
I don't think I explained myself well previously so I thought that I should clarify why my rendered audio files sound "dull" compared to when I listen to them in BIAB.
I choose for them to be dull by removing all of PG Music's effects such as EQ, Pan, Reverb and volume balance. I personally like to have raw audio files to work with in my DAW. Once I take the raw audio to Reaper, I then add my own Pan, EQ, Reverb, Delay, etc.
When files play in BIAB, they are usually heard with all of PG Musics adjustments that were added when making a style.
When you render a file, these additions of PG Music should render with the audio unless you choose to render "dry, center, flat" like I do.
they don't sound the same because the tracks have no eq, no fx and no PG music balancing of the tracks that make for the overall sound of the style that created the file.
as you say .......... 'no Band In A Box EQ, no Reverb and no Effects'
that's why i drop and drag files to RB these days rather than open BIAB files in RB because RB does not have the fx and eq
drag and drop exports tracks with the eq and fx - although there is a setting to centre and remove fx
In Band In A Box I remove all panning, EQ, Effects, Reverb etc (everything) from every track and just set all volumes to 90. So all the tracks are completely dry. Then I listen in BIAB - it sounds fine.
However when I export the dry tracks to 16Bit 44.1K WAV files they sound nothing like in BIAB - they sound dull and lifeless. Nothing to do with volume or EQ or Reverb etc - this is just a tonal matter.
I just use the BIAB export function - should I be using drag and drop and if so how does this improve the tonal quality of the rendered tracks?
If it does - how do I drag and drop tracks?
Best Regards Nigel
Nigel Spiers Christchurch, New Zealand info@nzacoustics.com
I would like to circle back and go through this in more detail - the 'dull' problem.
My first response would have been as above, to export as flat, dry, centered and make the EQ etc. adjustments in the DAW. But it sounds like you are doing this.
Then I would have made sure you were rendering the tracks in 16 bit, 44.1K at the least. But it sounds like you are doing that.
You are using Reaper, so I can't help with that. Is there any chance there is a gain staging problem, where the volume level going to Reaper is somehow way too low?
Your description of 'dull' makes me think, bit and sample rate, like saving to a 128-quality MP3 or lower, even like 40. So, could you describe the exact steps you take to transfer your BIAB audio tracks into Reaper? Perhaps someone, especially someone who knows Reaper, will see something.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Your export matches one of my usual one Nigel...though sometimes I'll use 24 bit just to suss out if there's a perceivable difference. Other times I'll select the track in BIAB mixer, make sure I've centred etc, & use the track actions (?) from the right click to export one at a time. Other times I've dragged from the DAW plug in (LOTS of problems with that) after the same preparation. I have most faith in the right click method for some reason. I have noted, during a recent collaboration, that the levels on the BIAB tracks were quite low...this didn't bother me but required significant boosting with the collaborator after rendering from REAPER without tweaking volume.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean